Chapter 12

Janna looked at me and grinned. Timmo looked at me questioningly. I said, “They were not prepared for us to do anything to their ships. I am guessing that those who we sent back reported but their reports were not listened to since those reports didn’t match the notions of what ‘natives’ might be able to do.”

Timmo said, “Janna, transition their damaged ship into an orbit around their planet in their solar system.”

Janna spoke for a moment. We heard, “William, this is Mary. HMSS Elizabeth just vanished!”

“I acknowledge, Mary. That’s what our sensors indicate also.”

Janna grinned and said, “William, we sent Elizabeth back to your planet placing it in orbit. None of its occupants were injured. Our method of transitioning seems to be safer than yours. We are sending your disabled air ships back to their ships. Once you have them loaded, we will transition you back to earth.”

Timmo said, “Tell them we will send a ship to earth in seven days with emissaries. We suggest that they be received peacefully.”

Janna said, “William, we will send a ship to Earth to talk with you in seven days. They will be on a peaceful mission and will be emissaries from this planet. I would suggest you receive them peacefully.

“By the way, William, the name of our planet in your language is World of Hope. We suggest you refer to it properly from now on. Your name is rejected. Your flock of disabled air ships is now close. Take them in and we will transition you back to your planet.”

A voice came on saying, ‘This is Admiral Nelson on HMSS William. We understand. What if we don’t comply?”

Janna said, “It will happen anyway, Admiral. We will talk on earth. Hope is off.”

Janna looked at Timmo. “I guess we need to prepare and build a ship.”

Timmo grinned. “Yes, the three of us, our mates, and a couple of others if you want them will be the crew. I want to look at it day after tomorrow.”

“You think smaller will be better?”

I answered. “Janna, that’s correct. Their technology is large scale and clunky. A smaller ship will be quite impressive. Be prepared to explode something large like a moon.”

She nodded.

We met later and looked at the ship. It was landed on a flat area close to the town. It was a bit boxy. Elena was with me as Janna walked us and Timmo through it. It had luxurious sleeping accommodations for four couples. We also toured the control room. All of the control surfaces were blank. I looked at Janna questioningly. She said, “Pick a seat and sit down, then say, ‘Activate.’ I think it will be satisfactory.”

I sat down and said, “Activate.” In front of me, the blank panel became active showing meters and touch pads.

Janna went to another and sat down. “Activate.” the control panel before her lit up. Before us, the front now showed the area in front of the ship. “Lift.” We watched as the ship lifted changing the scene before us. The ship continued to lift until the sky darkened. Janna then said, “Return.” We watched the sky lighten. The ship seemed to settle into the same spot.

Janna said, “That is all that I have programmed. It’s easy to handle the ship. It has protective shields in case of trouble. It is protection against the strongest bombs that we have seen from them by a factor of ten.”

Timmo said, “Let’s hope we don’t have to test them.”

“I join in that hope but I believe we might well have problems with them. They will not like us besting them.”

Timmo said, “We’ll find out. We shall leave in the morning.”

Elena and I slept after making love. We gathered our personal possessions and met the others at the ship. We went aboard and all sat in the galley. Timmo said, ‘We are met to travel to Earth. We hope this will be a peaceful mission. However, our ship is capable of fighting if it must. Does anyone have any questions or statements?”

I said, “We should name this ship. That is typical of Earth of my universe and of the Britishers.’ Everyone nodded.

Timmo asked, “What do you suggest?”

I smiled and said, “I suggest we name this ship, Liberty.”

Janna said, “You are sending a message to the Britishers?”

“Why not? It’s a good name and represents us well. It will also send a message to everyone on the planet who hears it.”

Timmo looked around and said, “So be it.” He smiled. “We are ready to leave. Janna, as Captain of Liberty, please take us to Earth.”

“Aye, sir.” She looked at the other woman who I didn’t know. Milla, let’s go.”

They led us to the control room and we all followed. I noticed that spectator seats had been added. Janna directed Timmo to one of the control seats. Milla directed me to another. We both sat down as did the others.

Milla said, “Janna, we will go into orbit around the planet across from their moon. For some reason, they don’t use that space.” Janna nodded. Milla pushed three buttons and the screen suddenly changed to space.